Bayelsa Government Empowers Petty Traders Across 105 Wards

In a bid to boost small scale businesses in the the rural areas, the Bayelsa State Government has empowered 1050 women and youths involved in small scale businesses with a cash of N200 000.

Presenting the cash to the beneficiaries in Yenagoa, Special Adviser to Governor Diri on Empowerment and Secretary of the Bayelsa State Women and Youths Empowerment Programme, Barr.Eunice Titus Akene said the essence of the empowerment programme is to support and encourage Bayelsans in the rural communities to grow their business.

According to Akene, the beneficiaries are selected from the 105 wards in the State, adding that the committee is empowered to go to the rural communities to select one man and a woman who are already involved in small businesses to be beneficiaries.

She noted that on the long run the programme is targeting empowering over 5000 persons in the state, pointing out that the scheme is designed to ensure that small businesses in Bayelsa are successful.

She said the committee intend to monitor beneficiaries to ensure judicious use of the money given as well as make sure that those doing well in their various businesses are encouraged more funds.

“The essence of the gathering is for the empowerment of the women and youths of Bayelsa State by the Prosperity Government ably led by Senator Douye Diri. The whole idea is to empower our rural entreprenuers, to support their businesses and to help their businesses grow.

“It is continuous process that is targeting businesses to be viable and to be at par with other state in term of the way small business grow. You Know that Bayelsa is a civil service state but we want the state to be known as state where businesses thrive.

“By my records, we have empowered 1050 Bayelsans and our projection is that we targeting 5000 Bayelsans to be empowered a man and a woman chosen from the 105 wards in the State.

“The committee”s mandate is to go to the rural communities to look at those doing small businesses and empower them as the programme is for everybody in the State.

Speaking to newsmen, a beneficiary from Okolokuma-Opokuma LGA, Boebi Deiseidei who is a few vendor thanked Governor Diri for empowering them with N200 000, saying that the money will go a long way to boost her business as the profit from the sale will help to take care of her family.

Also speaking, Ezekiel Millionaire Iruo who sells a provision store appreciated the Governor for the empowerment, adding that for him it a dream come as he has been looking for money to increase his business.

Another beneficiary, Emmawaya Ogboi who deals on second hand clothing expressed gratitude for the opportunity to be chosen to benefit and pray for God to take the Governor Douye Diri to the next level.

Tife Owolabi

Journalist

Niger Delta

@tifeowolabi